Tag Archives: wish

mentors sometimes come to us individually only once in a blue moon. not just authority figures, but people that we learn from, that we bond with, that help us grow into the people we either never thought we could be, or that we always wanted to become..these people have an innate ability to sense potential and push us to act on it to blossom into the best versions of ourselves. these people take chances on you when no one else will. they trust their intuition, and their show you love through their belief in you.

exactly 1 year ago i had an interview with my current mentor for the job of my dreams. a few weeks later he called me right as i was getting on the boltbus back from nyc to head home, and he said, “get ready and embrace the ride you’re about to go on.” i remember not knowing what to say because as bad as i wanted it, i knew who i was competing against and thought i had no real chance of getting the job. the fact that i’ve worked since i was 9 years old, got good grades in school, was an athlete and creative person — (all the things that nova kids cry and sweat over all their adolescent lives) — didn’t really mean much in the scheme of things. my mentor said he hired me for one reason: my potential.

over the past year, i’ve had plenty of room to make mistakes, but my mentor has given me even more room to grow. i’ve gotten to travel to remote areas of the world, meet snazzy ceo’s and figureheads of major foundations and corporations, and i’ve been given the opportunity to exercise my own hidden talents through photography and videography. I feel more like me because my mentor saw possibility all along.

today, my mentor stepped down from his position as my boss, and he is moving back to philly full time to be closer to his wife and kids. it would be selfish of me to not wish him all the best and good luck, but i can’t help but think over and over again: i wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him. it really is a tough loss when you have to let go of an organic bond with a person that has proved to be stronger than most of your adolescent friendships. it sucks..but our COO reminded me today to cherish the opportunity that has been granted to me, and the opportunities that are to soon follow…since i will now have bigger, more senior shoes to fill.

(sigh) a lot of emotions — happy and sad. just wish everyone could have a mentor like mine at some point in their life.